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Bellard A, Mathew J, Sun W, Denkow L, Najm A, Michael-Grigoriou D, Trotter P, McGlone F, Fairhurst M, Cazzato V. Topography and relationship-specific social touching in individuals displaying body image disturbances. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13198. [PMID: 37580362 PMCID: PMC10425375 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39484-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Interpersonal touch is intimately related to the emotional bond between the touch giver and the touch receiver. Which bodily regions we touch in those individuals in our social network is relationship specific. Perception of interpersonal touch is altered in psychiatric disorders characterised by body image disturbances (BIDs). Here, we examined whether the 'imagined' experience of social touch in individuals with BIDs is body topography- and relationship-specific. By using an interactive media mobile App, the Virtual Touch Toolkit, high versus low levels of BIDs participants completed heatmaps of full-body virtual avatars, to indicate the body regions they find soothing/unpleasant to be touched by a loved one versus an acquaintance. Self-reports of interoceptive awareness and dysmorphic concerns were also measured. Overall, imagined touch was rated as the most soothing when received from a loved one, and also when this was delivered to 'social' body regions. The importance of the social relationship for the imagined tactile interactions was particularly evident for the high levels of BIDs group, with greater problems with interoceptive awareness predicting higher soothing touch ratings when this was received by a loved one. Despite the evidence that imagined bodily contacts between meaningful people is the most pleasant for socially acceptable bodily regions, our findings may suggest a greater sensitivity to relation-specific bodily patterns of social touch particularly in the high level of BIDs group. Heightened interoceptive awareness may also play a key role in this experience of bodily affective contacts. Future research for body-oriented therapy for BIDs is encouraged to systematically probe the efficacy of imagined social touch interaction protocols which use more plausible, ecological, scenarios where touch is delivered by loved ones and to socially acceptable bodily regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh Bellard
- Faculty of Health, Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jyothisa Mathew
- Department of Psychology, Bundeswehr Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Wenhan Sun
- Faculty of Philosophy and Philosophy of Science, Munich Center for Neuroscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Linda Denkow
- Department of Psychology, Bundeswehr Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Ali Najm
- GET Lab, Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Despina Michael-Grigoriou
- GET Lab, Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Paula Trotter
- Faculty of Health, Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Francis McGlone
- Institute of Psychology, Health & Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Merle Fairhurst
- Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Centre for Tactile Internet With Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Valentina Cazzato
- Faculty of Health, Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
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Jolink TA, Chang YP, Algoe SB. Perceived Partner Responsiveness Forecasts Behavioral Intimacy as Measured by Affectionate Touch. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2022; 48:203-221. [PMID: 33736544 PMCID: PMC8801651 DOI: 10.1177/0146167221993349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Affectionate touch is an important behavior in close relationships throughout the lifespan. Research has investigated the relational and individual psychological and physical benefits of affectionate touch, but the situational factors that give rise to it have been overlooked. Theorizing from the interpersonal process model of intimacy, the current studies tested whether perceived partner responsiveness forecasts affectionate touch in romantic couples. Following a preliminary integrative data analysis (N = 842), three prospective studies use ecologically valid behavioral (Studies 1 and 2) and daily (Studies 2 and 3) data, showing a positive association between perceived partner responsiveness and affectionate touch. Furthermore, in Study 3, we tested a theoretical extension of the interpersonal process of intimacy, finding that affectionate touch forecasts the partner's perception of the touch-giver's responsiveness the next day. Findings suggest affectionate touch may be an untested mechanism at the heart of the interpersonal process of intimacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sara B. Algoe
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
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Saarinen A, Harjunen V, Jasinskaja-Lahti I, Jääskeläinen IP, Ravaja N. Social touch experience in different contexts: A review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:360-372. [PMID: 34537266 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Social touch is increasingly utilized in a variety of psychological interventions, ranging from parent-child interventions to psychotherapeutic treatments. Less attention has been paid, however, to findings that exposure to social touch may not necessarily evoke positive or pleasant responses. Social touch can convey different emotions from love and gratitude to harassment and envy, and persons' preferences to touch and be touched do not necessarily match with each other. This review of altogether 99 original studies focuses on how contextual factors modify target person's behavioral and brain responses to social touch. The review shows that experience of social touch is strongly modified by a variety of toucher-related and situational factors: for example, toucher's facial expressions, physical attractiveness, relationship status, group membership, and touched person's psychological distress. At the neural level, contextual factors modify processing of social touch from early perceptual processing to reflective cognitive evaluation. Based on the review, we present implications for using social touch in behavioral and neuroscientific research designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aino Saarinen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Ville Harjunen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti
- Department of Social Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Iiro P Jääskeläinen
- Brain and Mind Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland; International Laboratory of Social Neurobiology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Niklas Ravaja
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
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Roberts SC, Havlíček J, Schaal B. Human olfactory communication: current challenges and future prospects. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190258. [PMID: 32306869 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although anthropologists frequently report the centrality of odours in the daily lives and cultural beliefs of many small-scale communities, Western scholars have historically considered the sense of smell as minimally involved in human communication. Here, we suggest that the origin and persistence of this latter view might be a consequence of the fact that most research is conducted on participants from Western societies who, collectively, were rather old (adults), deodorized and desensitized (ODD) to various aspects of olfactory perception. The view is rapidly changing, however, and this themed issue provides a timely overview of the current state-of-the-art on human chemocommunication. Based on evolutionary models of communication, the papers cover both general mechanisms of odour production by 'senders' and odour perception by 'receivers'. Focus on specific functional contexts includes reciprocal impact of odours between infants and mothers, the role of odour in mate choice and how odours communicate emotion and disease. Finally, a position paper outlines pitfalls and opportunities for the future, against the context of the replication crisis in psychology. We believe a more nuanced view of human chemical communication is within our grasp if we can continue to develop inter-disciplinary insights and expand research activities beyond ODD people. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Olfactory communication in humans'.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Craig Roberts
- Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Jan Havlíček
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 42 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Benoist Schaal
- Developmental Ethology and Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, Centre for Taste, Smell and Feeding Behaviour Science, UMR 6265 CNRS-Université de Bourgogne-Inra-AgroSup, Dijon, France
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Sekerdej M, Simão C, Waldzus S, Brito R. Keeping in Touch with Context: Non-verbal Behavior as a Manifestation of Communality and Dominance. JOURNAL OF NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR 2018; 42:311-326. [PMID: 30174367 PMCID: PMC6105193 DOI: 10.1007/s10919-018-0279-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This research investigated the influence of observed touch on the perceptions of communality and dominance in dyadic interactions. We manipulated four key situational features of haptic behavior in two experiments: the initiation, reciprocity, the degree of formality of touch (Studies 1 and 2), and the context of the interaction (Study 2). The results showed that the default perception of touch, irrespective of whether it is initiated or reciprocated, is the communal intention of the toucher. Furthermore, the initiation of touch was seen as an act of dominance, particularly, when the contact between the actors was primed as being hierarchical. Reciprocation neutralized the perceived asymmetry in dominance, but such inferences seemed to hinge on the fit of the touch with the context: reciprocation of formal touch reduced the asymmetry in the hierarchical context, whereas reciprocation of informal touch reduced the asymmetry in the non-hierarchical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Sekerdej
- 1Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, ul. Ingardena 6, 30-060 Kraków, Poland
| | - Claudia Simão
- 2CUBE - Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sven Waldzus
- 3Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Lisbon, Portugal
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Sabogal F, Marín G, Otero-Sabogal R, Marín BV, Perez-Stable EJ. Hispanic Familism and Acculturation: What Changes and What Doesn't? HISPANIC JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/07399863870094003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 985] [Impact Index Per Article: 123.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This investigation studied the effects of acculturation on attitudinal familism in 452 Hispanics compared to 227 white nonHispanics. Despite differences in the national origin of Hispanics, Mexican-, Central -and Cuban-Americans reported similar attitudes toward the family indicating that familism is a core characteristic in the Hispanic culture. Three basic dimensions of familism were found: Familial obligations, perceived support from the family and family as referents. The high level of perceived family support, invariable despite changes in acculturation, is the most essential dimension of Hispanic familism. Familial obligations and the perception of the family as referents appear to diminish with the level of acculturation, but the perception of family support doesn't change. Although these two dimensions of familism decrease concurrently with the level of acculturation, the attitudes of persons with high levels of acculturation are more familistic than those of white nonHispanics.
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Jakubiak BK, Feeney BC. Keep in touch: The effects of imagined touch support on stress and exploration. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Jakubiak BK, Feeney BC. Affectionate Touch to Promote Relational, Psychological, and Physical Well-Being in Adulthood: A Theoretical Model and Review of the Research. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 2016; 21:228-252. [DOI: 10.1177/1088868316650307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Throughout the life span, individuals engage in affectionate touch with close others. Touch receipt promotes well-being in infancy, but the impacts of touch in adult close relationships have been largely unexplored. In this article, we propose that affectionate touch receipt promotes relational, psychological, and physical well-being in adulthood, and we present a theoretical mechanistic model to explain why affectionate touch may promote these outcomes. The model includes pathways through which touch could affect well-being by reducing stress and by promoting well-being independent of stress. Specifically, two immediate outcomes of affectionate touch receipt—relational-cognitive changes and neurobiological changes—are described as important mechanisms underlying the effects of affectionate touch on well-being. We also review and evaluate the existing research linking affectionate touch to well-being in adulthood and propose an agenda to advance research in this area. This theoretical perspective provides a foundation for future work on touch in adult close relationships.
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Schirmer A, Reece C, Zhao C, Ng E, Wu E, Yen SC. Reach out to one and you reach out to many: Social touch affects third-party observers. Br J Psychol 2014; 106:107-32. [DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2013] [Revised: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Annett Schirmer
- Department of Psychology; National University of Singapore; Singapore
- Duke/NUS Graduate Medical School; Singapore
- LSI Neurobiology/Ageing Programme; National University of Singapore; Singapore
| | - Christy Reece
- Department of Psychology; National University of Singapore; Singapore
| | - Claris Zhao
- Department of Psychology; National University of Singapore; Singapore
| | - Erik Ng
- Department of Psychology; National University of Singapore; Singapore
| | - Esther Wu
- Department of Psychology; National University of Singapore; Singapore
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; National University of Singapore; Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology; National University of Singapore; Singapore
| | - Shih-Cheng Yen
- LSI Neurobiology/Ageing Programme; National University of Singapore; Singapore
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; National University of Singapore; Singapore
- Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology; National University of Singapore; Singapore
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Camps J, Tuteleers C, Stouten J, Nelissen J. A situational touch: How touch affects people's decision behavior. SOCIAL INFLUENCE 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/15534510.2012.719479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Dorros S, Hanzal A, Segrin C. The Big Five personality traits and perceptions of touch to intimate and nonintimate body regions. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2007.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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12
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Hanzal A, Segrin C, Dorros SM. The Role of Marital Status and Age on Men’s and Women’s Reactions to Touch from a Relational Partner. JOURNAL OF NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s10919-007-0039-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Hertenstein MJ, Verkamp JM, Kerestes AM, Holmes RM. The communicative functions of touch in humans, nonhuman primates, and rats: a review and synthesis of the empirical research. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 132:5-94. [PMID: 17345871 DOI: 10.3200/mono.132.1.5-94] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Although touch is one of the most neglected modalities of communication, several lines of research bear on the important communicative functions served by the modality. The authors highlighted the importance of touch by reviewing and synthesizing the literatures pertaining to the communicative functions served by touch among humans, nonhuman primates, and rats. In humans, the authors focused on the role that touch plays in emotional communication, attachment, bonding, compliance, power, intimacy, hedonics, and liking. In nonhuman primates, the authors examined the relations among touch and status, stress, reconciliation, sexual relations, and attachment. In rats, the authors focused on the role that touch plays in emotion, learning and memory, novelty seeking, stress, and attachment. The authors also highlighted the potential phylogenetic and ontogenetic continuities and discussed suggestions for future research.
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14
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Sexual and institutional issues when one spouse resides in the community and the other lives in a nursing home. SEXUALITY AND DISABILITY 1996. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02590100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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15
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Guerrero LK, Andersen PA. Patterns of matching and initiation: Touch behavior and touch avoidance across romantic relationship stages. JOURNAL OF NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR 1994. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02170075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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16
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17
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The effects of gender and type of romantic touch on perceptions of relational commitment. JOURNAL OF NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR 1991. [DOI: 10.1007/bf00997766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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von Allmen M, Bastard B, Cardia-Vonèche L, Languin N. [How to choose a partner nowadays? A crucial question for the prevention of AIDS]. SOZIAL- UND PRAVENTIVMEDIZIN 1990; 35:72-80. [PMID: 2187316 DOI: 10.1007/bf01367525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
This article reviews the literature on choice of partner, with the aim of stimulating though about the aids prevention. The criteria involved in choosing a partner are discussed, and a model describing the process by which a couple meet, continue to see one another, and finally decide to live together is presented. This model shows that those times and situations where individuals are most likely to put themselves at risk of contracting aids cannot be identified. This implies that the whole process of partner choice is to be considered for preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- M von Allmen
- Institut de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Genève
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Derlega VJ, Lewis RJ, Harrison S, Winstead BA, Costanza R. Gender differences in the initiation and attribution of tactile intimacy. JOURNAL OF NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR 1988. [DOI: 10.1007/bf00990792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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